I was born into a family that referred to themselves as Christian, yet church attendance was minimal and mostly reserved for Easter and Christmas. And a Bible was not an item found in our home.
I was taught that Jesus was a “good” man—a prophet who taught moral principles to guide a person’s life. There was no mention of Him being the Son of God. I was also taught that all “good” people went to heaven and “bad” people went to hell. That premise troubled me, because I knew that there were times when I was “bad” and times when I was “good.” Therefore, I faced a troubling conundrum.
At age 26, my sister-in-law introduced me to Jesus Christ and asked if I wanted to accept Him as Lord and Savior. My response was a resounding, “Yes!” She then proposed a second question, “Do you want all that God has for you? If so, invite the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your life and empower you to follow and obey God with all your heart.”
Luke 11:13 tells us that if we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Without hesitation, I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me to the fullest. As mentioned in previous blogs, when I invited Jesus to be Lord of my life and asked the Holy Spirit to dwell within me, my life took on a new direction with new desires.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:5). We were once entombed within our mother’s womb in a water-filled environment. When her water broke, it indicated that birth was imminent—the birth of our flesh. But Jesus was saying that we must also be born of the Spirit. That is what it means to be “born again.”
How are we born again? First, we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. We are then saved and become sons and daughters of the King (Romans 10:9). Those who verbally acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior can then invite the Holy Spirit to dwell within them.
The Holy Spirit is vital to the Christian walk. He is part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the One who counsels, guides, and directs our steps. If we ask God for discernment, wisdom, and knowledge, those things come through the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who gives revelation to His Word. The Spirit speaks into our spirit truths that we never knew. “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
Imagine walking through life without vision and hearing. The Holy Spirit gives us a new “vision” and a new “hearing” that we never before experienced. He opens our spiritual eyes to clearly see and understand truths found in His Word. He gives us spiritual ears to hear from Him and to discern between truth and deception. These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God (I Corinthians 2:10). His Spirit empowers Christians as they bear witness to the gospel.
Jesus told the disciples, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:7-8).
We learn in Acts 4:31 that after [the disciples] prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly. Before the Holy Spirit was upon them, they were fearful, timid, and had little faith. After the Holy Spirit came upon them, they went forth and preached the gospel with boldness.
God wants us to live our best life by seeking Him with all our heart. That can only happen when we seek His guidance, which comes through the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit directs our steps, we are no longer self-directing. Our spiritual ears and eyes are opened to His leading.
God made this promise to those who seek Him with all their heart, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV).
The Holy Spirit is a gift available to all who have surrendered their heart to Jesus Christ. The follower of Christ only needs ask to receive the Holy Spirit. Then when prayerful petitions are made to God for wise counsel, discernment, understanding, and direction, the answer comes through the Holy Spirit—an inner voice by which God’s “sheep” hear Him (John 10:27).
God wants to help us negotiate the ups and downs of life through the power of the Holy Spirit, who guides, mentors, and teaches. However, He gave us free will to choose; therefore, we have all liberty to accept or reject His amazing gift. I chose to accept His gift and in doing so, discovered a joy and purpose for my life.
PRAYER: “LORD, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I ask that You open my heart, mind, and spirit to all the gifts of the Spirit. May the Holy Spirit fill me and direct and guide my life, so that I may boldly live for You and be a living testimony of Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.